Peace in Afghanistan necessary for regional stability, says Pakistani envoy amid surging tensions

Pakistan’s special envoy Muhammad Sadiq Khan (left) meets Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul on March 22, 2025. (AmbassadorSadiq/X)
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Updated 23 March 2025
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Peace in Afghanistan necessary for regional stability, says Pakistani envoy amid surging tensions

  • Muhammad Sadiq Khan is on a three-day visit to Afghanistan to discuss bilateral matters amid surging militancy 
  • Army says 16 militants attempting to enter Pakistan via Afghanistan gunned down in North Waziristan district

ISLAMABAD: Peace and progress in Afghanistan are necessary for regional stability, Pakistan’s special envoy Muhammad Sadiq Khan said on Sunday, amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries due to militancy. 

Khan, Pakistan’s special representative to Afghanistan, is on a three-day visit to the country to discuss bilateral matters with Afghan officials. His visit takes place amid tense relations between the two countries due to a mix of security, political and border issues, with Islamabad accusing the Taliban-led interim government in Kabul of providing safe haven to anti-Pakistan militant groups facilitating cross-border attacks. Kabul has denied the allegations.

The friction escalated after a recent targeting of a passenger train in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, claimed by the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Pakistani officials said the BLA fighters remained in contact with “handlers” based in Afghanistan during the attack that lasted for two days and involved hundreds of hostages.

“Peace and progress in Afghanistan is essential for regional stability,” Khan was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul on the occasion of Pakistan’s Republic Day. 

“Pakistan and Afghanistan must synergize their efforts to foster regional economic development.”




Pakistan’s special envoy, Muhammad Sadiq Khan, attends the flag hoisting ceremony at Pakistan's embassy in Kabul on March 23, 2025, on Republic Day. (Muhammad Sadiq Khan/X)

The Pakistani envoy described Afghanistan as “one of the most important regional partners” of his country, stressing the need for both to work together to enhance bilateral trade and regional connectivity. 

“Pakistan remains committed to a strong and mutually beneficial bilateral relationship with Afghanistan,” Khan said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military said in a statement on Sunday that it gunned down 16 militants who attempted to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan on the night between Mar. 22-23 in the North Waziristan district. 

“Pakistan has consistently been asking Interim Afghan Government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said.

“Interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by Khwarij for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan.”

The ISPR said Pakistan’s security forces are committed to securing its borders and eliminating “terrorism” from the country.

Pakistan’s ties with Afghanistan were also strained after the former launched a nationwide deportation campaign targeting undocumented foreigners, mostly Afghans, in November 2023, shortly after a series of deadly suicide bombings that officials blamed on Afghan nationals.

The move, which added to diplomatic tensions between the two countries, has so far led to the repatriation of more than 800,000 Afghans. Many of them had lived in Pakistan since fleeing the Soviet invasion of their country in 1979.

The Pakistani government earlier this month also directed Afghanistan Citizen Card holders to leave the country by March 31, warning they would face deportation if they failed to comply.


Afghan PM condemns Pakistan’s ‘unilateral’ deportations

Updated 13 sec ago
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Afghan PM condemns Pakistan’s ‘unilateral’ deportations

  • Pakistan has launched strict campaign to evict by end of month more than 800,000 Afghans
  • Afghan PM Hasan Akhund urges Pakistan government to facilitate “dignified return” of refugees

KABUL: Afghanistan’s prime minister condemned on Saturday the “unilateral measures” taken by Pakistan to forcibly deport tens of thousands of Afghans since the start of April.

Pakistan has launched a strict campaign to evict by the end of the month more than 800,000 Afghans who have had their residence permits canceled, including some who were born in Pakistan or lived there for decades.

Pakistan’s top diplomat Ishaq Dar flew to Kabul for a day-long visit on Saturday where he held discussions with Afghan Taliban officials, including Prime Minister Hasan Akhund and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

“Rather than collaborating with the Islamic Emirate on the gradual repatriation process, Pakistan’s unilateral measures are intensifying the problem and hindering progress toward a solution,” Akhund said during his meeting with Dar.

He urged the Pakistani government to “facilitate the dignified return of Afghan refugees,” according to a statement on X.

Earlier, foreign minister Muttaqi “expressed his deep concern and disappointment over the situation and forced deportation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan,” the ministry’s deputy spokesperson Zia Ahmad said on X.

Ahmad added that Dar had reassured officials that Afghans “will not be mistreated.”

Afghans in Pakistan have reported weeks of arbitrary arrests, extortion and harassment by authorities.

Islamabad has said nearly 85,000 have already crossed into Afghanistan, with convoys of Afghan families heading to border crossings each day fearing raids, arrests or separation from family members.

On Friday, Pakistan’s deputy interior minister Tallal Chaudhry told a news conference that “there will not be any sort of leniency and extension in the deadline.”

The relationship between the two neighbors has soured as attacks in Pakistan’s border regions have soared following the return of the Taliban government in Afghanistan in 2021.

Last year was the deadliest in Pakistan for a decade, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of allowing militants to take refuge in Afghanistan, from where they plan attacks.

The Taliban government denies the charge.

Chaudhry said on Friday that nearly 85,000 Afghans have crossed into Afghanistan since the start of April, the majority of them undocumented.

More than half of them were children, according to the United Nations refugee agency.

The women and girls among those crossing were entering a country where they are banned from education beyond secondary school and barred from many sectors of work.

Afghanistan’s refugees ministry spokesman told AFP on Saturday the Taliban authorities had recorded some 71,000 Afghan returnees through the two main border points with Pakistan between April 1 and 18.

In the first phase of returns in 2023, hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans were forced across the border in the space of a few weeks.

In the second phase announced in March, the Pakistan government canceled the residence permits of more than 800,000 Afghans and warned thousands more awaiting relocation to other countries to leave by the end of April.

The move to expel Afghans is widely supported by Pakistanis.

“They are totally disrespectful toward our country. They have abused us, they have used us. One can’t live in a country if they don’t respect it,” said Ahmad Waleed, standing in his shop on Friday in Rawalpindi, near the capital.


Peshawar Zalmi smash PSL record with 120-run win over Multan Sultans

Updated 34 min 57 sec ago
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Peshawar Zalmi smash PSL record with 120-run win over Multan Sultans

  • Pacer Ali Raza returns figures of 4/21 while Tom Kohler-Cadmore scores blistering half-century 
  • Player of the Match Abdul Samad smashes 40 runs from 14 balls, hitting three sixes and four fours

ISLAMABAS: Peshawar Zalmi got off the mark in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 tournament on Saturday by defeating former champions Multan Sultans by 120 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, registering the highest margin of victory in the PSL’s history. 

After Zalmi openers Saim Ayub and Babar Azam fell for low scores earlier on, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (52 runs from 30 balls) Mohammad Haris (45 runs from 21 balls) and Abdul Samad (40 runs from 14 balls) helped the “Yellow Storm” finish at an impressive score of 227-7 off their 20 overs. 

In response, the Sultans were no match for Zalmi’s potent bowling. Skipper Mohammad Rizwan’s side was bowled out for 107 runs in 15.5 overs courtesy of a stellar bowling performance by new pace sensation Ali Raza, who returned figures of 4/21 from his four overs, and spinner Ariq Yaqoob, who finished with 3/20. 

“A blazing batting performance that saw Zalmi muster 227-7 in 20 overs was followed by young pace sensation Ali Raza’s masterclass as they registered the highest margin of victory in HBL PSL history,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on its website.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Player of the Match Samad said Zalmi expected him to perform well as he had been playing domestic cricket for some time. 

“Stuck to my natural game,” he said, “We had to score 200-plus runs. There was grip, and the pitch was on the slow side but glad the execution went well.”

After registering their first win in three matches, Zalmi have moved up to number five on the PSL points table while the Sultans remain at the bottom with three losses from as many matches. 

Islamabad United remain at the top of the table with three wins from three matches, while Lahore Qalandars secure the number two spot with two wins out of three matches.


PM Sharif urges global investors to tap into Pakistan’s minerals sector

Updated 20 April 2025
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PM Sharif urges global investors to tap into Pakistan’s minerals sector

  • Pakistan organizes three-day Health, Engineering and Minerals Show in Lahore with foreign delegates in attendance
  • Exhibition featured a range of high-tech stalls showcasing agricultural machinery, precious stones and pharmaceuticals

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this week invited global investors and friendly countries to tap into the country’s mining sector and take advantage of its economic opportunities, state-run media reported. 

Pakistan is home to one of the world’s largest porphyry copper-gold mineral zones, while the Reko Diq mine in southwestern Balochistan province has an estimated 5.9 billion tons of ore. Barrick Gold, which owns a 50 percent stake in the Reko Diq mines, considers them one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper-gold areas, and their development is expected to have a significant impact on Pakistan’s struggling economy.

In recent months, Pakistan has aggressively tried to tap into its huge reserves of natural resources to extract maximum economic advantage from them. Islamabad hosted a two-day minerals summit this month in which hundreds of delegates from around the world visited Pakistan to explore opportunities in its mining and minerals sector.  

“Pakistan is rich in talent, especially in IT and AI sectors,” Sharif said on Saturday while speaking at the three-day Health Engineering and Minerals Show [HEMS] in Lahore. 

“We are extending investment opportunities to friendly nations and inviting them to initiate joint ventures, particularly in the mining and minerals sector,” he added. 

The Pakistani prime minister stressed that over 60 percent of Pakistan’s population comprises the youth, describing them as intelligent and capable.

He called for equipping them with modern skills and professional training. 

“Our young generation is our asset, and with the right direction and innovation, they can drive Pakistan’s economic success,” he added. 

Sharif credited his government for increasing Pakistan’s exports, saying that its consistent policies had caused the country to boost production and rely less on imports. 

The exhibition featured a range of high-tech stalls showcasing agricultural machinery, precious stones, pharmaceuticals and surgical instruments, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said. 

Dignitaries and delegates from China, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the United States, Turkiye and other countries participated, with a total of 860 foreign delegates in attendance.

On this occasion, several bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed, the APP said. 


UAE deputy PM to arrive in Pakistan today to strengthen bilateral cooperation

Updated 20 April 2025
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UAE deputy PM to arrive in Pakistan today to strengthen bilateral cooperation

  • Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit reflects fraternal relations between both countries, says state media 
  • In recent months, Pakistan and United Arab Emirates have signed several agreements to boost economic ties

ISLAMABAD: UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan today, Sunday, on a two-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in various sectors, state-run media reported. 

Pakistan and the UAE have deepened their economic partnership in recent years. The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major source of foreign investment, with over $10 billion invested in the last two decades.

“Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will undertake a two-day official visit to Pakistan from Sunday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

It said the high-level visit reflects the deep-rooted, fraternal relations that Pakistan and the UAE enjoy.

“It also underscores the two countries’ shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across all areas of mutual interest,” the state broadcaster added. 

The UAE is home to over a million Pakistani expatriates — the second-largest overseas Pakistani community globally — and a major source of remittance inflows to Pakistan.

Policymakers in Islamabad view the UAE as an ideal export destination due to its geographic proximity, which lowers freight costs and facilitates smoother trade.

In recent months, the two countries have signed a series of agreements to boost economic ties.
In February, during the Abu Dhabi crown prince’s visit to Pakistan, the two sides signed accords in mining, railways, banking and infrastructure.

Last year in January, Pakistan and the UAE signed deals worth more than $3 billion covering railways, economic zones and infrastructure development.

The UAE has become an even more crucial partner for Pakistan amid Islamabad’s efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth after suffering from a prolonged macroeconomic crisis. 


Pakistani Christian man to appeal death sentence for blasphemy

Updated 20 April 2025
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Pakistani Christian man to appeal death sentence for blasphemy

  • Christian man was convicted of blasphemy over allegations he had desecrated Qur’an in 2023
  • Allegations fueled attacks in Jaranwala town in which hundreds of houses, churches were burnt 

LAHORE: A Christian man accused of blasphemy in the eastern Pakistani town of Jaranwala will appeal against a death sentence handed down by an anti-terrorism court, his lawyer said on Saturday.

The 36-year-old man was convicted of blasphemy over allegations he had desecrated the Muslim holy book, the Qur’an, claims that fueled attacks on a Christian neighborhood in 2023 in which hundreds of houses and churches were torched and thousands of people forced to flee their homes.

“We will file an appeal in the High Court against it,” his lawyer Akmal Bhatti told Reuters, referring to the verdict delivered on Friday night.

Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan. No one has been executed by the state for it, but numerous accused have been lynched by outraged mobs.

In the southern city of Karachi on Friday, a mob of 100-200 people beat a 47-year-old Ahmadi owner of a car workshop to death with bricks and sticks. Ahmadis are a minority group that have faced attacks in Pakistan, considered heretical and accused of blasphemy by some orthodox Muslims.